REDDING ROAD RACE NEWSLETTER
13 Volume 7
4/14/13
Picture above: your gateway to the finish – ignore the snow
Race stuff is starting to trickle in. If anybody can guess what the big roll in the
upper right is, you’ll get entry into the 2013 Redding Road Race (please note:
before I get 1,000 emails, if you’re getting this newsletter, you are already
registered in the 2013 race).
1.
Channel 12 News
Frank Recchia of Connecticut Channel 12 news will be on site race day to
interview runners as they come across the finish line for the local television news –
pretty cool!!
2.
7 Mile Preview Run
The Redding Running Club runs parts of the Redding course every weekend,
but mark Saturday, April 27th, 9am, on your calendars as an official preview run of
the 7 mile course. If you’d like to join the Redding Running Club for the preview,
show up in our meeting spot – near the West Redding Post Office and the train
station on the corners of Simpaug, Long Ridge and Side Cut Rd. Map is below.
3.
Bring folding chairs on race day
If you plan on staying after the race and enjoying the party (and who
wouldn’t) you may want to bring folding chairs to sit in. Alternatively, you can
just sit on the grass.
4.
Hotel users
If out of towners with hotel reservations would be so kind, please email
meme where you are staying. The hotels are providing any sponsorships to the
race, but, this will allow me to call up the hotels you’re staying with requesting late
checkouts for all of you.
5.
Saturday, May 4th Expo (bag pickup)
Not a lot happens in Redding usually, but, most of which does fortunately is
happening on race weekend. If you can make it into town on Saturday, May 4th,
we have a nice series of events to give you a taste of Redding:
1. The race expo is from noon-5pm: get your bag and all the runners’ schwag
before the craziness of race day. It’s a good chance to meet us too, when
we’re still relatively calm and visit the farm and farm animals (who are
always calm).
2. Before (or after) you come to the expo, you can go the annual Frog Frolic
carnival, about 10 minutes away from the farm. We’ll give you directions
and their flyer is below.
3. Join us at the Pasta Dinner at the Redding Roadhouse from 5:00 to 6:30 or
7:00 to 8:30. Reservation info is later in the newsletter
6.
Band added to the race experience
During and after the race, for you entertainment, we are pleased to
announced that we will be having a great band playing. The five piece rock-n-roll
band, Pampalibros, are high school students from Redding and Westport and are
quite good. Check out their website at www.pampalibros.com.
7.
Pasta Dinner Reminder – Redding Road House
Seatings are still available, $25 per adult; $15 for children, <5 is free.
Redding runner Barry and another band mate from Bone Dry,
http://www.bmiserv.com/, will be providing musical entertainment. Seatings are
5:00-6:30 and 7:00-8:30 are limited to 100 people per session. Email me your
reservations and if you can't make it to the expo but can make it to the dinner,
make sure to email me and we'll bring your race bag to the dinner. If you think you
are going, but not sure, please email me anyway as we’re trying to get a head
count.
NAME
_______________________
SEATING
_____ 5:00-6:30 ______ 7:00-8:30
ADULTS
_____ ($25)
KIDS (5-12)
_____ ($15)
YOUNG KIDS
_____ (FREE)
TOTAL
_____
Check made out to REDDING ROADHOUSE (not Redding Road Race) and mail
to:
John McCleary
Redding Road Race
67 Picketts Rd
Redding, CT 06896
8.
Carpooling
This is my favorite word leading up to race day and I’ll continue to mention
it. Please do your best to carpool on race day. Last year the parking area at the
farm seemed to be about 2/3rds full and we’ve increased runner count by about
33%, so it may be tight. We also have parking available at the Fire Station on
Umpawaug (.19 miles from the farm) and will utilize it if the farm fills up. Hint:
you may want to arrive early so you’re not parking at the fire station and rushing to
the farm. It’ll also give you time to eat/drink something before the race. 9.
Tribute run in Bethel – May 18th
For area runners, Joyce Allen, a local runner has organized a 5k Veteran
tribute run In Bethel on Saturday, May 18th. It's a great cause that provides free
gym memberships, personal training, mentoring, and a place to gather for combat
veterans returning to our area. The organization was founded on the belief that
exercise is key to mental and physical well being, and is currently helping about 38
veterans with PTSD and other medical conditions. Come out and run with us, if
you can, and Joyce is also looking for sponsors. The flyer is below.
10.
Lightfoot Races/Norwalk Summer Series
Also for local runners, Don Capone puts on a wonderful summer series. The
combined cost of all 7 of his races (Mother’s day 10k, the progressive 5 race series
and the Sam Elpern Memorial Half) is about what you pay for an average half
marathon in this area – the best value in running; I LOVE this race series. Hope to
see you out there this summer!!
11.
The Great Turkey Escape, Thursday November 28, 2013 – Redding CT
Okay, I know Thanksgiving is a LONG way away, but….. this will not be
your every day Thanksgiving Day Race!! More to come, but keep these things in
mind: (1) Beautiful Redding, Ct; (2) a 5k AND a 10K race; (3) substitute your
normal basic cotton t-shirt giveaway with a long sleeve tech shirt, logo’d gloves
and a logo’d beanie – all to get you ready for the upcoming Winter. I have so much
fun with the RRR that I think I can handle one more race, and it will be the best
thanksgiving race in the area. It will benefitting all of the scout groups in Redding.
12.
Register your piglets
The Piglet Prance is up to 70 participants but it’s not too late to register your
kids. Please do so if you haven’t already so we can make sure all piglets get prizes
13.
Sponsors
Thanks to all of our new and returning sponsors. I can’t imagine any race
has as much community support as we have with over 70 sponsors!! We still are
accepting more if you are interested.
14.
Runner Story
Ednaldo Oliveria knows how to go the distance
News-Times, The (Danbury, CT), Elizabeth Bacelar NEWS-TIMES CORRESPONDENT
Ednaldo finished in 2nd place in the inaugural half marathon race last year and is
back for another shot at it this year.
DANBURY - The simple desire to lose a few pounds ignited in Ednaldo Oliveira a
commitment to running and the courage to face his first marathon, transforming
him into one of Connecticut's top runners.
From the starting line at Greater Hartford's Bushnell Park, to Boston's historic
course, to the strenuous New York City Marathon that attracts the world's best
every November - Oliveira has finished them all.
"Running for me became a hobby and a therapy that makes me leave all my
worries aside to focus on achieving my goal," said the 34 year-old.
All year long, Oliveira wakes up religiously at 5 a.m. Monday through Saturday to
run an average of 10 miles. Many have noticed him quickly passing flowery
gardens along Danbury's back roads, running around the soccer fields of Rogers
Park on drizzling summer mornings, and following the red and orange hues of
Route 53 every fall. Others have been startled to see him in earmuffs, black gloves
and blue windbreaker in the freezing cold, running under light snow crossing
unplowed streets.
"I don't stop during the winter. If you want to improve your performance, you must
run every day. There is a victory each day when I run my 8 to 10 miles before
going to work," he said.
Oliveira never carries a Walkman. He prefers to keep his long morning exercise in
quiet solitude.
"Music is distracting. Thinking of the road I am running and how it will help me in
a marathon is all I need to keep me going."
Oliveira left Brazil for the United States 12 years ago. He lives in Danbury with his
wife, Maria Assis, and two children - Louisa, 8, and Victor, 2. He works in home
improvement, painting and finishing walls in homes throughout Fairfield County.
"He seems to always carve out time for running," said his employer, David
Demment. "Ed possesses a great deal of integrity, a strong work ethic and desire to
succeed."
Oliveira remembers well his sedentary routine of six years ago, and how pursuit of
a healthier life reawakened an old passion.
"I was 29 and only thought about working hard to support my family, and play
some soccer with friends on the weekends. One day I saw the taping of one of our
games, and I was completely shocked by my overweight image on the TV. A guy
has to see himself in video to wake up and do something about it," he said.
With the help of friends who were experienced runners, Oliveira decided to end a
10-year hiatus and become an athlete again.
As a youngster in Brazil, he had achieved many victories on the track, including
three consecutive championship titles in Minas Gerais state.
"I had given up because I thought I was too old for running. But my friends
showed me that quitting the sport was a big mistake, and I gave it another try,"
Oliveira said.
Waking up early was a challenge at first. But he learned to get up without the
alarm clock's rhythmic buzz.
After training for a year, he felt ready for the first marathon of his life - the mighty
New York City Marathon with its five bridges, five boroughs, and more than 2
million spectators.
There were many challenges. There was the massive start out of Staten Island's
Narrows Bridge, uphill climbs ranging from a quarter mile to a mile, and the last
three miles in hilly Central Park leading to the finish line at Tavern on the Green.
For this first experience, the goal was simple: conquering the marathon regardless
of finishing time.
Thirteen marathons later, he can afford dreaming of being number one.
At the Greater Hartford Marathon last month, he finished ninth and achieved the
title of Connecticut's second fastest. In 2000 Oliveira finished 14th, and was
awarded $2,000 for being the first from Connecticut.
According to Oliveira, there are three phases in any marathon run - "anxiety, fear
and frustration, and glory."
The first phase takes place on the last days before the race. A lot of attention must
be paid on the runner's diet, and it's crucial to eat lots of carbohydrates and drink
plenty of water.
Oliveira's diet a week prior to a race is mostly white meat, bread, potatoes, and
pasta. On the night before the race he stops by at Nico's on Main Street to get a
medium size cheese pizza to eat at home.
"It's important to eat a lot because one usually loses 4 to 8 pounds by the end of a
marathon. In my case, I bring my weight up to 168 pounds to be back on my usual
160 pounds by the end of the race," he said.
The anxiety kicks at 10 p.m. when Oliveira goes to bed. Thinking about the next
day's challenges, he stares at his white bedroom ceiling, unable to sleep.
"This level of anxiety is normal. Even expert marathoners can't sleep well on the
night before," he said.
The fear and frustration come when a runner hits the so-called "wall", and
succumbs to exhaustion.
"Many people say it comes on the 20th mile, which means the last two or three
miles in the race. Everyone gets to their wall - some hit it and give up, others break
it and finish. And it's really frustrating to fall short from a desired time because you
could not get over the pain," he said.
Oliveira learned a lot about pain when he hit the "wall" at Greater Boston's
Marathon in 1999. After the "Heartbreak Hill" at the 21st mile, knives of pain
stabbed through his arms to the point when the temptation to quit was
overwhelming. But he didn't quit. He finished the race.
He started more rigorous training, determined to conquer that wall. In 2000, he
returned to the world's oldest marathon, running in 15 to 20 mile per hour winds.
He was confident his performance would be much better.
Three miles from the finish line, he realized the wall from the previous year had
vanished and he started to cry.
"It was an enormous joy to be running pain free," he said.
The glory of the third and last phase, Oliveira said, it is more a matter of going
through the experience than winning a prize.
"There was a poster at Boston's Marathon that read 'All you need to know about
yourself you learn in 26 miles.' Running a marathon is a big deal, and finishing it is
a great victory."
Oliveira's next challenge is New York City Marathon on SundayNovember 7. It
will be his third time joining the 36,000 participants crossing the city's five
boroughs. He ran it four times between 1999 and 2003, and his best finish was 269.
"My only goal is to better my time and rank without any specific number in mind,"
he said.
As in other marathons, he will write his first name on his arms and legs with a
black dry marker.
"There will be 2 million people on the streets, and many shout your name or
number to cheer you up," he said. "I can't explain how great it is, the great jolt of
joy I feel when people shout 'Go Ednaldo!' And I don't even know who they are…"
The only familiar face in the crowd will be of Edonidio Zeferino, 35, a friend who
raced alongside Oliveira in the same team in Brazil, but quit the sport after moving
to New Milford 14 years ago.
"I miss running and I give him a lot of credit for his dedication," Zeferino said. "He
is a victor, and I'll be cheering for him!"
USE THE CODE RRR2013 AT CHECKOUT TO GET FREE SHIPPING
ON ORDERS THROUGH MAY 31
53 Redding Road, P.O. Box 659
Georgetown, CT 06829
203-544-9098 or 203-544-8872 Fax
www.georgetownvet.com
INSURANCE
Between now and May 5th, Book a 60 min
or longer massage or facial and receive $10 off.*
Visit www.SusiLauraMassage.com
Call 203‐438‐2900 and mention, "Redding Race."
*Cannot be combined with any other offers Limit, 1 per person.
The Allen & Heske Family
The McCleary Family
The Guggenheimer Family
Dr. Martza Perez
Kim McClure
A B C Janitorial
Dr's Ahern, Cigno, Galban and Kim
Cheers,
John